Dead Ink launches open call for northern crime fiction
thebookseller.com – Wednesday April 17, 2024
Dead Ink Books is launching an open call for short literary crime stories from northern authors ahead of a new list focused entirely on northern crime fiction.
The scheme is a collaboration between the indie publisher and literary agencies Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh. Agents from Curtis Brown and Conville & Walsh will be reading initial submissions. The winners’ stories will be published in an anthology, Motives Unknown, in addition to a "small fee" and a consultation with a literary agent.
Dead Ink director Nathan Connolly said: “We’re looking for works in the genre that have that Dead Ink touch – compellingly written, transgressive, bold and daring. We’re on the hunt for new talent as we prepare for a new venture and we want to foreground writers from our home region.
Peter James announced as special guest for Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
thebookseller.com – Monday April 8, 2024
Peter James has been announced as the final “special guest” for the 2024 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, taking place from 18th to 21st July in Harrogate.
James is the author of the Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series (Pan Macmillan), which has been adapted into an ITV drama starring John Simm. He will mark his 20th Roy Grace book at the festival with an exclusive preview of One of Us is Dead, which will be published by Pan Macmillan in September 2024. The author is scheduled to be in conversation with TV presenter Louise Minchin, and will also talk about his new standalone novel, They Thought I Was Dead (Macmillan), revealing the fate of Roy Grace’s missing wife Sandy.
Japan publisher threatened over publication of trans-skeptical book
english.kyodonews.net – Sunday March 31, 2024
A Japanese publisher has received threats over its plan to publish a translated version of a controversial U.S. book questioning an increase in young women seeking gender transitions, its parent company said Saturday.
Sankei Shimbun Publications Inc. received an email threatening arson against bookstores that carried the book unless its publication was canceled, noting the work could promote discrimination against transgender people.
The conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper's book-publishing imprint, owned by Sankei Shimbun Co., filed a police report alleging forcible obstruction of business.
"To threaten bookstores, where many people gather, is an unforgivable act. We will publish the book and not bow to this malicious pressure," Sankei Shimbun Publications said.
A3 Alums Andy Patman, Martin Spencer & Martin To Join Innovative Artists Literary Department
uk.movies.yahoo.com – Friday March 22, 2024
Innovative Artists is beefing up its literary division with the addition of veteran agents Andy Patman, Martin Spencer and Martin To. The trio recently got on the market following the shutdown of A3 where they helped reestablish a literary division, with Patman serving as head of Television Content.
This is the third consecutive agency where Patman, Spencer and To will be working together following stints at Paradigm and A3, which they all joined in 2020. Bringing their roster of clients, they will be based at Innovative’ Los Angeles office. They join agents Jim Stein, Michael Pio, Joe Arciniega, Susan Sussman, Emily Cameron, and Ethan More in Innovative’s literary department.
Lit Agents Alysia Thomas, Kelsey Roberts Exit Paradigm
uk.finance.yahoo.com – Friday March 22, 2024
Paradigm and a pair of literary agents, Alysia Thomas and Kelsey Roberts, have parted ways, sources tell Deadline.
Paradigm declined comment.
Thomas has already made her exit, and we’re told this was entirely amicable. What prompted Roberts’ exit is unclear, but she’s still finishing up her time at the agency.
Sports Illustrated to continue operations with new publisher
espn.co.uk – Wednesday March 20, 2024
Sports Illustrated will continue operations after the company that owns the brand agreed with a new publisher for its print and digital products.
Minute Media took over on Monday after reaching a licensing agreement with Authentic Brands Group. On Jan. 19, Authentic announced that it was revoking The Arena Group's publishing license after Arena failed to make a quarterly payment.
Authentic had been in negotiations with Arena, Minute Media and other publishing entities over the past two months.
Scammers And Screenplays: Self-Publishing Scams On The Internet Today
mondaq.com – Tuesday March 19, 2024
Scams around the entertainment business are nothing new. And as the allure of the film industry continues to captivate aspiring filmmakers, writers, and actors, scams have proliferated online. In this blog we'll explore the workings of one such scheme targeting authors who self-publish through Amazon.
The Amazon Scam
It all starts above-board. Maybe you've been frustrated by major publishers and agents just not "getting" your work. Maybe you like the speed, editorial control, and DIY-mcguvery involved. However you arrived there, you're now a self-published author at Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/publish). It's a great service for many people. Let's now follow one such hypothetical author, based on two actual clients who've consulted with us at Romano Law over the past few months.
New children's publisher Post Wave UK, led by Emma Hopkin, appoints creative team
thebookseller.com – Thursday March 14, 2024
Post Wave UK, a new subsidiary of Chinese publishing house Post Wave Publishing China, led by m.d. Emma Hopkin, has appointed a creative team and is to launch its books list in August.
Emma Blackburn will join from Hachette as publisher in April, while Joanna McInerney from Big Picture Press is to be editorial director and Avni Patel of Thames & Hudson will be design director. Bounce Sales & Marketing will be Post Wave UK’s first sales and distribution partner.
Hopkin, who had a former role as m.d. of consumer publishing at Bloomsbury, said of the new appointments at Post Wave UK: “The profile of our acquiring and design team really signals our intent to be an exceptional illustrated children’s publishing house, backed by our colleagues from Post Wave China. We plan to grow quickly and cleverly, and I couldn’t hope for a better team to steer our list strategy and our agent, author and illustrator relationships.”
Rizzoli International to Launch U.K. Publishing Arm
publishersweekly.com – Thursday March 7, 2024
Rizzoli International has announced plans to launch a London-based publishing arm, Rizzoli UK.
Helming the new business is Stephen King, who has been appointed managing director of Rizzoli UK. King was previously managing director of independent publisher Hardie Grant UK.
King will also join the Rizzoli International executive team headed by president and CEO Stefano Peccatori. Also on the executive team are Jennifer Pierson, v-p of global sales, marketing, and operations; Randy Barlow, v-p of finance and administration; and Charles Miers, publisher of all Rizzoli International imprints, who oversees Rizzoli New York, Rizzoli Universe, Rizzoli Electa, and now Rizzoli U.K.
The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers returns for fifth year
thebookseller.com – Wednesday March 6, 2024
The Nature Writing Prize for Working Class Writers returns for its fifth year, offering one year’s free membership to Campaign for National Parks, a £300 paid commission to write a National Parks-inspired piece for Viewpoint Magazine and an Arvon course of choice.
The winner will also receive three one-hour mentoring sessions with a Gaia commissioner, a one-hour mentoring session with a literary agent and a book bundle from Octopus Publishing Group.
The prize, which aims to break down barriers, was set up in 2020 by the writer Natasha Carthew to create opportunity for working-class nature writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. It is supported by Arvon Foundation, the Campaign for National Parks and Gaia, an imprint of Octopus Publishing Group. The prize is free to enter and encourages self-identifying working-class writers from all over the UK, whether they live in the country or in towns, cities and other spaces.
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